Remembrance Day 2012

Today is the day we remember those Canadians who fought in wars, served in our military in any capacity, and those who paid the ultimate price. To that end I will be reviewing two books by Canadian author, John Wilson, which were written for younger readers so that they might learn some history and understand some of the factors that led to the First and Second World Wars.

The first book, Desperate Glory: The Story of WWI explains how the Great War came about, how Canadians got involved, the famous battles, the air war - new to warfare, trench warfare, the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the situation in Russia, and the Halifax Explosion. Students who use this book will have a good overall understanding of World War I. There are plenty of photographs and maps to help the reader understand and identify the areas of conflict, and Wilson's writing style is simple and readable.

Failed Hope: The Story of the Lost Peace details the interwar years from the signing of the devastating Treaty of Versailles in 1918, through the Roaring Twenties with Prohibition, the rise of Benito Mussolini and Hitler, the Spanish Civil War, the Sino-Japanese War, and finally to the brink of war in 1939. Again Wilson makes great use of photographs to enhance the text.

While generally speaking this book provides a good overview of events that took place during the interwar years, Wilson does parrot the accepted view that "the Catholic and Protestant churches either supported the Nazis or folded when faced with any intimidation." Unfortunately, in a book about history for young people, author John Wilson has chosen to continue to perpetuate the myth of the Catholic church's silence and inaction when it came to Hitler's treatment of Jewish citizens and later on the Nazi's policy of extermination of an entire race of people.

It has now been well documented by historians, both Jewish and non-Jewish, that the Catholic Church did much to help the Jewish people both in the interwar years and also during World War II. As an example, on "April 4, 1933, ten days after the Enabling Act, the Apostolic Nuncio in Berlin was ordered by Pius XI and Cardinal Pacelli", then Vatican secretary of state, (who would later become Pope Pius XII), "to intervene with the government of the Reich on behalf of the Jews and point out all the dangers involved in an anti-Semitic policy." Pacelli, throughout the 1930's was regularly lampooned as "Pius XI's 'Jew-loving' cardinal because of the more than fifty-five protests he sent the Nazi regime while serving as Vatican secretary of state."  The above quotes are taken from Rabbi David G. Dalin's book, The Myth of Hitler's Pope.

Pope Pius XI also wrote Mit brennender Sorge, the 1937 anti-Nazi papal encyclical, which the Nazi's of course, ignored. Pope Pius XII concentrated on quietly saving lives, rather than speaking out and enraging the Nazis into taking retaliatory action against helpless citizens of occupied countries.

It should also be noted that many Catholics were also imprisoned, tortured and murdered and that there were notable Protestants such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Marga Meusel who strongly opposed Hitler. Bonhoeffer was hanged in Flossenburg concentration camp just weeks before the camp was liberated.

There is plenty of Canadian content including mention of Canada's growth as a leading exporter of pulp and paper and hydro-electric power, the Group of Seven painters and the Winnipeg general strike. This book is actually the third in a series, Stories of Canada.

Bitter Ashes: The Story of World War II follows Desperate Glory. I don't have a copy of the book so I'm unable to review it but based on the two books I've read these are overall good books, well written with lots of primary sources and excellent for providing background information for upper elementary and also high school students. As with many modern history books, students should question general statements made about religion and in particular the Catholic church.

Book Details:
Desperate Glory: The Story of World War I by John Wilson
Toronto: Dundurn Press
81pp.

Failed Hope: The story of the lost peace by John Wilson
Toronto: Dundurn Press
116 pp.

Germania by John Wilson

Germania is a  novel about a Roman legion ambushed and slaughtered in the wilds of Germania. .The story is told by Lucius Quintus Claudianus, a member of the 19th Legion Scorpio, specifically the IXth cohort. In the opening chapter of Germania Lucius, nearing 100 years of age is living at his sister's grandson's villa just by the northwestern gate of the town of Herculaneum in 79 AD - the year of Mount Vesuvius' famous eruption which destroyed both Herculaneum and Pompeii. 

Lucius decides to write his story, "I have just returned from the roof and it is what I saw there that has prompted me to begin this tale. Although the sun still shines above and the sky to the west is as blue as a robin's egg, the picture is altogether different to the east. There a cloud hangs, turning the landscape below it as dark as midnight. It is no ordinary cloud, such as presages a thunderstorm, but an unnatural one that blossoms up in a vast column from the unknown depths of the mountain."

And so Lucius begins to tell us about the events that led up to a long forgotten tragedy, all the while unaware of the disaster about to unfold before him in Herculaneum. As a young apprentice signifer to the IXth Cohort, Lucius and a group of warriors are ambushed and captured by barbarians while on their way to Vetera to join the 19th Legion. They are quickly rescued by Cherusci warriors who are loyal to Rome and are part of the Roman Auxilliary forces. 

It is at this time that Lucius meets Freya, a Cherusci warrior who is travelling with her uncle Arminius. It is through Freya that Lucius begins to understand what life is like for the barbarian tribes that live on the borders of the Roman territory and what it is like to serve Rome but never be accepted as a an equal in Roman society. When Lucius offers Roman ways as a means to be civilized, Freya questions what being civilized will mean to her way of life and her tribe. It is this struggle to see the benefits Rome offers in contrast to the loss of a way of life and freedom that precipitates barbarian rebellion against Rome.

When the 19th Legion enters Illyria, Bato, leader of the Bruesci tribe rebels and attempts to force the Romans out of Illyria. The ensuing battle is described vividly and provides thrilling insight to Roman warfare. Although Bato is seemingly defeated this time, Freya soon comes to understand what her uncle Arminius is planning. When Arminius must choose between Rome and Cherusci, Freya must decide who she will be loyal to, Arminius, the Cherusci and their way of life, or Lucius and Rome.

Discussion

Germania is a novel that explores the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest which occurred in 9 A.D. The battle was fought between Roman soldiers and the Germani people. The battle began when the Roman legions led by Publius Quinctilius Varus were ambushed by the Germanic chieftain, Arminius. 

Arminius was a prince in Cherusci tribe, the son of the Cheruscan chief, Segimerus who was an ally of Rome. He learned to speak Latin, had Roman citizenship and was well educated. He eventually served in the Roman cavalry and became a commander in the auxiliaries. Arminius returned to Gaul where he served sd an officer in Varus's auxilia as well as a trusted advisor to Varus who was governor of Germania. But behind the scenes, Arminius was rallying the various Germanic tribes including the Cherusci, Marsi, Bructeri and many others to form an alliance against Rome.

Varus was considered a ruthless ruler in Germania and Arminius was not really loyal to Rome. Along with the other Germanic tribes, a plan was devised to ambush the three legions under Varus's command. Since the Roman army was well armed and very well trained, special tactics were needed. Arminius convinced Varus to set up a summer camp in Cherusci lands where they could be observed by the tribe. The plan was then to attack the Romans on their way back to their winter camp.

Arminius set his plan in motion, having his allies create unrest, while he influenced Varus's actions over the summer months. Varus began his move to the winter camp on September 7, 9 A.D with the XVII, XVIII and XIX Legions. Arminius left Varus, telling the Roman commander that he was organizing the Cherusci auxiliaries but in fact was organizing men from the Angrivarii and Bructeri to attack. The next day as the Roman army made its way through the Teutoburg Forest, they were attacked. Because of the dense bush, the Roman soldiers were strung out along a long line which made attack not only easy but successful. It is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 Roman soldiers were killed, with a small number likely being enslaved. The Roman defeat was so complete that it shocked Emperor Augustus. Although the Roman defeat in the Teutoburg Forest is often listed as the main reason for limiting the Roman incursion in Germania, there were likely other factors at work as well.

Wilson's writing is vivid, exciting and he manages to include a great deal of historical fact and information about Roman legions in Germania. The ending while tragic is supremely satisfying. Highly recommended.

Book details:

Germania by John Wilson
Key Porter Books Limited 2008
278pp